Miss. man accused of slaying father with punch leaves jail

Taylor Harris, 21, looks at his family as his attorney Lisabeth… (Red Huber, Orlando Sentinel )

July 26, 2013|By Jerriann Sullivan, Orlando Sentinel

The Mississippi man accused of killing his father with a punch in Orlando smiled at family members and friends during a brief appearance before a judge Friday after being charged with manslaughter.

Taylor Harris, 21, was only in front of a judge for about 20 minutes Friday, but he appeared relieved his family attended his hearing at the Orange County Jail.

Harris was granted a $35,000 bond for the manslaughter charge and a $150 bond for the aggravated-battery charge. He left jail later Friday.

Mississippi authorities brought Harris to Orange County on Thursday. He was charged with manslaughter and aggravated battery after deputies say he punched his father in the face this month.

The family was eating at Dave and Buster's restaurant on International Drive at 10 p.m. July 7 when Harris discovered his father, Leonard Harris, was having an affair and receiving text messages from his lover.

Taylor Harris was upset and walked outside to the parking lot, but his father followed him and a fight began, according to sheriff's records.

"You better not come out here!" the younger Harris had yelled, a report stated.

Harris pushed and hit his father several times before his father started to walk away, witnesses told deputies.

The older Harris was unable to leave before his son punched him in the face, the arrest report said.

A witness later told deputies, "When the victim fell and hit the concrete … she could hear the victim's head hit the concrete three car lengths away," the report stated.

The older Harris died 10 days later at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, investigators said.